Mother Nature rains on Creighton's parade at Little Caesars Classic

Southeast trailed 13-1 when play was halted after three innings.

The bad news for Southeast Missouri State's baseball team Sunday was that the Redhawks trailed visiting Creighton 13-1 after three innings.

But the good news for the Redhawks is that they won't be hit with another loss.

After a rain delay of about 1 hour, 45 minutes prior to the start of the fourth inning, the umpires at Capaha Park ruled the field unplayable, even though the tarp had been covering the infield.

Five of the scheduled nine innings are required for an official game, so Creighton (6-3) was denied a probable seventh straight victory while Southeast (4-7) was spared a likely fifth consecutive defeat.

Southeast ended the three-day Little Caesars Pizza Classic -- a four-team, round-robin event -- with an 0-3 record, losing by scores of 8-1 to Indiana State, 8-0 to Southeastern Louisiana and 10-6 in 11 innings to Indiana State.

Creighton, the defending Missouri Valley Conference champion, scored three runs in the first inning Sunday, then exploded for 10 runs on nine hits in the second to knock out starter Daniel Schuh. The Redhawks scored their only run in the second.

The Redhawks return to action Friday with a 1 p.m. home contest against South Dakota State that begins a three-game series.

Tennis wins two more

The Southeast women's tennis team ran its winning streak to five straight matches as the Redhawks prevailed twice Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

First came a 7-0 rout of Tennessee State in the Redhawks' Ohio Valley Conference opener. Southeast (5-3) later beat nonleague foe Lipscomb 5-2.

"We're on a nice roll," Southeast coach Jay Pacelli said. "We're only one win away from matching last year's total, and it's early March, so I'm pleased, but we do have some major challenges ahead."

Bryce Kristal, Drew Kristal and Julia Masotti all posted singles and doubles victories in both matches.

Another highlight was Luz Garcia playing her first match after missing the early part of the season with an injury. Garcia participated in just singles against Lipscomb, and she won that match.

"Her playing was a big boost for us," Pacelli said.

Southeast has its first home match of the season Friday, playing Arkansas State at 2 p.m. That begins a string of three straight home dates for the Redhawks.

Southeast 7, Tennessee State 0

Doubles

1. Bryce Kristal-Drew Kristal (S) def. Martina Goldthrete-Charmaine Helms 8-2; 2. Juliana Negosek-Julia Masotti (S) def. Kiamesha Wilson-Dania Lofton 8-0; 3. Kimmy Anderson-Morgan Kemp (S) default win

Singles

1. B. Krystal (S) def. Goldthrete 6-0, 6-1; 2. D. Kristal (S) def. Wilson 6-1, 6-1; 3. Masotti (S) def. Helms 6-0, 6-0; 4. Negosek (S) def. Lofton 6-0, 6-0; 5. Kemp (S) def. Stephanie Fields 6-0, 6-0; 6. Anderson (S) default win

Southeast 5, Lipscomb 2

Doubles

1. B. Kristal-D. Kristal (S) def. Emily Ellis-Olivia Ellis 8-4; 2. Negosek-Masotti (S) def. Jamie Aid-Caitlin Khoure 8-2; 3. Casey Hall-Mary Beth Muncher (L) def. Anderson-Kemp (S) 8-0

Singles

1. B. Kristal (S) def. Erin Moakler 1-6, 6-3, 6-2; 2. D. Kristal (S) def. E. Ellis 6-3, 6-4; 3. Masotti (S) def. O. Ellis 7-5, 6-3; 4. Luz Garcia (S) def. Aid 6-1, 6-3; 5. Hall (L) def. Negosek 6-1, 6-0; 6. Muncher (L) def. Anderson 6-0, 6-3

Softball evens record

The Southeast softball team finished up play Saturday at the All Missouri Cancer Tournament in Springfield, Mo., by beating St. Louis University 8-4.

Earlier in the day, the Redhawks (4-4) defeated Missouri-Kansas City, after losing to Missouri and host Missouri State Friday. Details of those games appeared in Sunday's edition.

Southeast had 11 hits against SLU, led by Megan McDonald, who homered and doubled.

Also getting two hits for the Redhawks were Lindsay Pickering and Charlene Ramirez. Pickering drove in three runs. Stephanie Huffman was the winning pitcher.

The Redhawks play a 3 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday at Southern Illinois, before hosting the Southeast Spring Classic Friday and Saturday.

-- From staff reports